Match Preview

Crystal Palace host Manchester United on Saturday evening as the Premier League season is drawing to a close. Palace have the chance of making United’s chase for Champions League football come under pressure if they can take something from this tie.

Alan Pardew‘s side have hit a sticky patch after losing three on the bounce. They had been on a four game winning streak but have been bought back down to earth and look likely to finish mid-table.

Last weekends loss didn’t come as too much of a surprise as they couldn’t halt Chelsea’s bid to become champions but their performance was spirited and they made it very difficult for their London rivals.

Back at Selhurst Park it is a totally different type of game. Palace have made it difficult for sides to come away with all three points all season and have beaten some of the top sides in the league.

United won the reverse fixture and haven’t lost to Palace since 2011. Louis Van Gaal‘s side need to ensure they avoid defeat here with Liverpool chasing them down for the all important fourth place.

United come into the game off the back of last weekend’s loss at home to West Bromwich Albion. It was a difficult one for the Old Trafford faithful to swallow but things are looking up for next season despite the fact they have lost their last three on the bounce.

Van Gaal has already started the summer rejig of his squad with the signing of Memphis Depay and he must make sure they finish in the top four to ensure he can attract the biggest names for next season.

This should be an interesting tie packed with action and it could play a pivotal role into how the Premier League table ends up.

Team News

Crystal Palace have three injury concerns. Former Manchester United player Frazier Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and Jerome Thomas are sidelined. Pardew will be relying on his speedsters, Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie, to provide and entertain as usual.

Manchester United’s injury woes continue as six could be set to miss out. Van Gaal is facing the prospect of playing this one five of his defenders absent. Marcos Rojo, Rafael, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans and Michael Carrick are all unavailable.

Key Points

Crystal Palace’s last five: W/W/L/L/L

Manchester United’s last five: W/W/L/L/L

Key Stat: Defensive woes – Louis Van Gaal only has one fully fit defender ahead of this tie in the shape of Phil Jones and his side could be easily exposed given Palace’s attacking talent.

Key Player: Yannick Bolasie – The Congolese winger will be looking to continue to impress and finish his great season on a high.

Match Preview

Chelsea host Crystal Palace on Sunday with the chance to secure their first Premier League title since 2010. Jose Mourinho’s men have been edging closer to the title with each passing week but have still come under criticism for their style of play.

They come into the game after a 3-1 away win at Leicester City on Wednesday. Their first-half performance in that tie was below par and with Leicester leading at the break it looked as if Chelsea would struggle in the second-half, though they went on to win and are now just one game away from the title.

Palace can take positives from the way in which Leicester unlocked the Chelsea defence but it will be surprising if the Blues don’t wrap up the championship this week.

The champions elect are unbeaten in 14 games and have looked like they have setup in a style to completely avoid defeat in recent weeks. However, a draw in this one is not what they will want and anything other than a win will be scrutinised.

Crystal Palace have been completely rejuvenated since Alan Pardew took over the side and are looking strong candidates for a mid-table finish.

Palace had won four on the bounce but have suffered back-to-back defeats which comes as a surprise with both of those games at home.

Pardew will have his players pumped as always and they will be hoping to spoil Chelsea’s day. Palace have a tough run-in and will be grateful they are not struggling in and around the relegation zone with just four weeks to go.

Team News

Chelsea look set to be without Diego Costa and Loic Remy for this game, though Oscar could return after missing out in midweek as a precaution following his heavy-hitting challenge with Arsenal’s keeper David Ospina. As we have seen this season Mourinho isn’t one for chopping and changing, so we could expect a very similar lineup to the one that played at Leicester.

Crystal Palace could be without Frazier Campbell and Marouane Chamakh who both face late fitness tests. Joel Ward and Jerome Thomas remain sidelined.

Key Points

Chelsea’s last five: W/W/W/D/W

Crystal Palace’s last five: W/W/W/L/L

Key Stat: Champions elect – Chelsea are just three points from the title and can wrap things up with a win this weekend.

Key Player: Eden Hazard – Even with Chelsea’s style being criticised the PFA Player of the Year continues to excite and he will be the focal point of Chelsea’s attacks as usual.

Since Alan Pardew took over at Palace they have looked a more threatening side and an upset is not out of the question. The Eagles have picked up more points than City in 2015, adding further credit to the fine job Pardew is doing in South London.

Manchester City desperately need a win in this one as they look to prolong the title race for at least another week. Chelsea could be a staggering nine points clear by the time City kick off on Monday night, with a game in hand.

City won the reverse fixture 3-0 at the Etihad in December. But you have to say Palace look a much better team than the one that took to the field on that occasion. The home crowd will look to play a part and City have lost their last two on the road so this is perfectly poised.

It has been a disappointing season for the champions, and a loss on Monday night would all but guarantee Chelsea the title.

But then again, if City play like they are capable of, this could be very one-sided and Manuel Pellegrini will be desperate to see a positive performance from his players.

Team News

Crystal Palace will be without Jerome Thomas, Frazier Campbell and Marouane Chamakh, who are all sidelined through injury. Mile Jedinak is suspended, while Joe Ledley and Jordan Mutch are both doubts but should make the squad.

Manchester City face concerns over Yaya Toure and James Milner, who are both doubts but should be available for selection. Toure should start alongside Fernando in midfielder, while Wilfried Bony is expected to continue to partner Sergio Aguero up front.

Key Points

Crystal Palace’s last five: L/W/L/W/W

Manchester City’s last five: W/L/W/L/W

Key Stat: Crystal Palace haven’t beaten Manchester City at home in the Premier League since April 1995 and will be looking to end a 20-year wait on Monday night.

Key Player: David Silva – The Spaniard is always at the heart of everything City do going forward and makes them tick. Expect him to be influential in the final third.

Score Prediction

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester City – City cannot afford to drop points here as they continue to fight for the title. They should edge it, taking their run of victories over Palace to eight in a row in all competitions.

The reverse fixture saw this game end level 0-0 at Anfield, a disappointing result as Liverpool will still believe they are fighting for a Champions League spot. The Stadium of Light has been a tough place to visit this season with Sunderland already taking points from league leaders Chelsea. We can expect a cagey affair with Sunderland looking to cause an upset again.

Both of these sides look set for the battle to avoid relegation until the end of the season now and it’s a real six pointer. Burnley have found some form of late and can take heart from battling back from 2-0 down away at Manchester City. QPR have been hit with a flooded training ground this week and that has dampened their preparations no end. QPR have lost every away game this season so far in the league, so we can expect much of the same.

Mourinho needs a response from his players and fast after some poor form over the last few weeks. Having already lost the away fixture last month they will need to win this to ensure they remain top of the table. Home form has been solid from Mourinho’s men and it should be three points.

Everton haven’t lived up to their expectations this season and City will be looking to kill this game early. The champions have continued to close the gap on Chelsea and will be smelling blood and looking to top the table for the first time this season. Roberto Martinez needs a reaction from his side and they must prove they have what it takes to challenge the top teams once again.

Both these sides have been inconsistent so far this campaign which could leave us with an entertaining tie. Leicester are unbeaten in their last couple of league games and have avoided defeat picked up four points in their last two games. They have to be favourites.

Swansea will be without goal machine Wilfried Bony, away at the African Cup of Nations, who could have played his last game for the side amidst reports of Manchester City chasing his signature. The Swans are happily sitting ninth in the league and will be keen to push for all three points. West Ham have had a bit of a step back to reality in the past couple of weeks as their top four push has been halted. This should be a feisty affair.

Just a point separates these two sides who both look set for a nervy period towards the back end of the season. Having reached the halfway mark neither side looks safe and it is surely another six pointer. Hull will need another performance like the one that saw them win 2-0 against Everton last time out while Albion need to take their goalscoring form of the cup into the game after firing seven past minnows Gateshead last weekend. Tony Pulis to get off to a fine start in the league.

Spurs head into this game on cloud nine after their brilliant performance over Chelsea. Palace, who fear nobody at Selhurst Park, need to be at their best and must stop striking sensation Harry Kane. One thing we know for sure is he will be at the forefront as usual if Spurs are to take all three points in Alan Pardew’s first league outing as Palace boss.

Arsene Wenger’s men need to take all three points from this tie to ensure they keep the pace in the race for the top four. They will need to keep it tight at the back compared to their dreadful start in the reverse fixture where they conceded after just one minute. They should gain revenge from that game here though.

This could be one of the most entertaining games of the weekend. We can expect an attacking mentality from both sides. Southampton can consider themselves unlucky in the reverse fixture whereby they were killed off by some clinical finishing. Louis Van Gaal’s impact has been good so far at United and although he will be wary of the Saints, he will be expecting nothing less than three points from his side.